Coach Vingada makes changes for North Korea tie

PETALING JAYA: National football team coach Eduardo Vingada has rung in the changes for their 2019 Asian Cup qualifying Group B match against North Korea in Thailand on Nov 10 and Nov 13.

The Portuguese coach has called up seven players from the Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) and one from Kedah in place of the eight axed from the squad who lost 2-0 to Hong Kong on Oct 10.

The eight players dropped are Ifwat Akmal Chek Kassim, Khairul Helmi Johari, Akram Mahinan, Fitri Omar and Syazwan Zainon ( Kedah); Amirulhadi Zainal ( JDT); Matthew Davies (Pahang); and Shahrel Fikri Md Fauzi ( PKNP FC).

The eight called up are Izham Tarmizi Roslan, Fadhli Shas, Fazly Mazlan, Junior Eldstal, Afiq Fazail, S. Kunalan, Azrif Nasrulhaq Badrul Hisham (JDT); and Syafiq Ahmad (Kedah).

Skipper Safiq Rahim has also been called up although he will miss the first match against North Korea due to suspension.

JDT’s Ahmad Hazwan Bakri (injury) and Pahang’s Nor Azam Abdul Azih (family emergency), who were dropped previously, have been recalled.

All the players, except for those from JDT and Kedah, will report for duty at Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya on Saturday.

JDT and Kedah will face off in the Malaysia Cup final at the Shah Alam Stadium on Saturday.

The JDT and Kedah players will report for training on Monday before the squad depart for Buriram on Tuesday.

The 64-year-old Vingada, who took charge of the national team in May, has yet to taste victory.

His first match in charge saw the team lose 2-1 to Lebanon in their opening Asian Cup Group B qualifying match in Johor on June 13.

The team then lost two friendlies – 2-1 to Syria (Aug 22) and 1-0 to Myanmar (Aug 29) – before being held to a 1-1 draw by Hong Kong in their second Asian Cup Group B qualifying match in Melaka on Sept 5. The national team then suffered a 2-0 loss to Hong Kong on Oct 10.

Malaysia are rooted to the bottom of the standings in Group B with a single point. Lebanon top the group with 10 points from three matches.

Hong Kong are second with five points while North Korea are third with two points from three matches.